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Department of Ecology Press Release - November 17, 2005
05-281
OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) is awarding $70,000 to Jefferson County so it can survey Hood Canal shorelines for septic systems that may be failing or delivering excessive nutrients to the canal.
Hood Canal suffers from low levels of dissolved oxygen believed to be partly caused by excessive nutrients that seep into the marine waters from failing septic systems. The nutrients feed the canal's low oxygen zones by causing rich plankton and algae blooms, which proliferate, die, and sink to the bottom where they decompose and use up oxygen. Waters with low oxygen levels can kill fish and aquatic life.
All septic systems discharge some amount of nutrients, but it is the excessive amounts of nutrients that create problems for Hood Canal.
In the shoreline surveys, the county will collect water from flowing discharge points. The water samples will be tested for E. coli bacteria and excessive nitrogen discharge. If failing septic systems are found, the county will notify homeowners and then work with them on repairs.
The shoreline surveys will occur from Tala Point south to the county line. The grant agreement calls for the work to be completed by June 2008.
In addition, the county will use part of the money to conduct meetings with the community to inform and educate shoreline homeowners about how they can help protect water quality in Hood Canal.
"Hood Canal is in danger and homeowners should be gratified that they can do something to help by maintaining and fixing their septic systems," said Mike McNickle, environmental health director for Jefferson County Public Health. "Living on a shoreline brings with it responsibility to take care of a valuable public resource."
In addition to properly maintaining their septic systems, people who live on Hood Canal can help the canal by reducing their reliance on lawn and garden products, by not dumping yard waste in streams or salt water, and by making sure animal waste is collected and contained, according to Dick Wallace, director of Ecology's Southwest Regional office. "Our individual actions can either help or hurt the canal, so everybody needs information so they can make good choices," he said.
Similar efforts with state funding are in the works for Mason and Kitsap counties. The work to restore Hood Canal water quality is a state priority with funding approved in the 2005 Legislature's 2006-07 Biennial Capital Budget.
The efforts to discover failing septic systems are among the early actions set forth to improve water quality in Hood Canal in the state's 2005-2007 Puget Sound Conservation & Recovery Plan.
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Contacts: Sandy Howard, Dept. of Ecology, 360-407-6239; cell,
360-791-9830
Mike McNickle, Jefferson County Health, 360-385-9444
Ecology's water quality program Web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/wqhome.html
Puget Sound Action Team Web site about Hood Canal: http://www.psat.wa.gov/Programs/hood_canal.htm
2005-2007 Puget Sound Conservation & Recovery Plan http://www.psat.wa.gov/plan
What you can do to help Hood Canal: http://www.psat.wa.gov/Programs/hood_canal/hc_what_you_can_do.htm
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
